Passenger ferry sinks off the coast of Kyrenia

A passenger catamaran, the Filo Jet, capsized and sank off the coast of occupied Kyrenia on Sunday, August 30, 2026, while en route from Kyrenia to Taşucu, Turkey. The vessel, carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members, began taking on water shortly after departing at approximately 12:10 p.m. Despite initial reports of 18 missing individuals, authorities later updated the figure to 20, with eight fatalities confirmed. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with a specialized Turkish vessel, the TCG Isin, expected to arrive Tuesday to assist in locating the wreck at a depth of 514 meters.

Legal proceedings have commenced against 16 individuals, including the ship's captain, crew members, and company officials from Filo Denizcilik, on charges of causing death through negligence. Survivors have alleged critical safety failures, reporting that the crew failed to respond adequately to flooding and abandoned the vessel ahead of passengers. Investigators are examining reports that the ship suffered damage to its bow during the voyage. Authorities, including the self-styled 'Prime Minister' Ünal Üstel and 'Transport Minister' Erhan Arıklı, have pledged a full investigation, noting that the vessel was previously denied departure due to poor weather before being cleared an hour later. The ferry, built in 2000, had a history of water ingress incidents dating back to 2003.